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When to plant garlic in zone 4b

In zone 4b, where the last spring frost typically comes around May 8, sow outdoors March 27 to April 10. For a fall crop, plant October 1 to 15.

The zone 4b schedule for garlic

Sow outdoors
March 27 to April 10
Plant for a fall crop
October 1 to 15

From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 1,164 ZIP codes in zone 4b, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for garlic.

Dates before the last frost assume the soil has thawed and is dry enough to work: a squeezed handful crumbles instead of sticking. After a late or wet spring, wait for that even if the date has passed.

Frost risk in zone 4b

Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 4b, the typical last frost ranges from about May 1 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 25 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from September 22 to October 8. For a typical place in the zone:

  • April 26Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
  • May 8Typical: frost after this date in half of years
  • May 22Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

Your dates for garlic

Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant garlic where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.

Enter your ZIP code

Garlic in zone 4b cities

CityTypical last frostPlantFall
Rochester, MNApr 30Mar 19 to Apr 2Oct 6 to 20
Duluth, MNMay 6Mar 25 to Apr 8Oct 9 to 23
Lakeville, MNMay 2Mar 21 to Apr 4Oct 5 to 19
St. Cloud, MNMay 7Mar 26 to Apr 9Sep 30 to Oct 14
Eau Claire, WIMay 8Mar 27 to Apr 10Oct 4 to 18
Great Falls, MTMay 19Apr 7 to 21Sep 24 to Oct 8

How to grow garlicAll zonesGarlic in zone 4aGarlic in zone 5aAbout zone 4b

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